Flynn: It Just Didn’t Fall For Us

- Shane Flynn spoke after Leicester City’s Development Squad were defeated 2-1 by Brighton
- Kasey McAteer’s goal had levelled Friday’s PL2 clash before the Seagulls’ injury-time winner
- Flynn felt it was a harsh scoreline given the Foxes’ second half dominance on the south coast
- The defender believes the squad should be proud of their performance despite the result

Victory was heading the Seagulls’ way in Friday's Premier League 2 fixture until Kasey McAteer finally found the breakthrough for the visitors in the 85th minute at AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre.

City pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but it was Brighton who struck the decisive blow deep into stoppage time to snatch all three points, courtesy of a 2-1 success on the south coast.

Although naturally disappointed with the defeat, Flynn – speaking in his post-match interview – believes the players can hold their heads up high after an excellent second-half display.

“I think the lads can be proud of the performance tonight,” the 19-year-old told LCFC TV. “I think we deserved far more than what the scoreline shows. We got it back to 1-1, with a really good finish, and unfortunately sometimes you don’t get the rub of the green.

“I think things have gone against us at the end. All the lads, from everyone who started to everyone who finished, and the staff, can be proud of how we played.

“The first thing Bayli [Spencer-Adams] did (after the goal) was to get the ball and run straight back to the half-way line so that showed the intent that we weren’t settling for a draw tonight.

“To be honest, I think a draw would have reflected Brighton well, so the fact that they’ve come out with a win, I think they can count themselves lucky. We worked really hard and unfortunately we just couldn’t find that extra finishing touch to either get a point or get the win.”

It was a welcome return to the starting XI for Flynn, who started for the first time this term having made a substitute appearance in the victory over Everton on Monday.

Coming through an hour of the game as he continues to build his fitness back up, the versatile defender played in the middle of a back three against Brighton and said he is happy to adapt his game to suit the system.

“It’s always tough being out injured,” the Republic of Ireland youngster admitted. “I think it was six or seven weeks I was out, but it’s nice to be back in among the lads in training every day.

“This is what you look forward to at the end of the week, so it’s good to be back out there. Back three, back four, I’m just happy to play wherever the coaches want me to play. I don’t mind, centre half, left-back, wing-back, wherever it is, I’m happy.

“It’s nice to get the experience against players who have done it at the top and show what it takes to play at the highest level, to pit yourself up against players who have done it. It’s nice to be able to compete against those types of players.”

With a relatively new squad this season, Flynn believes it has taken time to gel, but he has every confidence that they are more than capable of consistently competing in Premier League 2 Division 1.

The Dublin-born full-back added: “It’s difficult. We are at the stage where a lot of the lads have come up from the Under-18s and it’s turning more into results-based rather than being performance-based.

“We’re a young team, but the lads have shown that the step up is not much of an issue for them. They’ve performed really well.

“We have to dust ourselves down and go again for Leeds next week. The opportunity is there, it is down to us when the opportunity rises, off the back of playing well tonight, so we have to take it. That’s the main thing.”